This research project developed diagnostic assays needed for advancing the understanding of blackhead disease. The article shows clearly how the disease most likely spreads and clarifies which cleaning and disinfecting methods are effective in decontaminating facilities and equipment.
Heterakis gallinarum (heterakis) is a heavily prevalent but rarely diagnosed avian parasite that poses a silent threat to poultry producers. The eggs of this nematode often act as carriers of a protozoan parasite called Histomonas meleagridis (histomonas) which causes a potentially deadly disease in poultry commonly referred to as blackhead disease. The prevalence of blackhead disease has increased significantly over the past three decades due to the revocation of FDA approval for use of drugs in commercial poultry that were previously administered to prevent transmission of the protozoan and treat afflicted birds. Poultry producers must adapt their farm management practices to mitigate the chances of transmitting the protozoan between flocks. This may be accomplished by controlling the spread of heterakis. However, preventing flock to flock transmission of heterakis on commercial poultry facilities is made difficult by a limited understanding of reservoirs for infection and a lack of information regarding effective decontamination procedures.
The objectives of this study were to:
- develop molecular diagnostic tests for heterakis;
- identify heterakis disease reservoirs;
- develop an assay to test the efficacy of different compounds to destroy heterakis.
Both sodium hypochlorite and sodium dichloroisocyanurate damaged the eggshell, but only 15,125 parts per million of sodium hypochlorite was capable of rendering the egg nonviable. These results demonstrate that the majority of current cleaning protocols are not effective in killing heterakis eggs in poultry houses and indicate the urgent need for product testing to identify farm management protocols to decontaminate farm equipment or poultry houses.
By Robert B. Beckstead, Ph.D., Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University
Source: USPOULTRY Foundation